British culture minister quits over expenses row

Britain's culture minister Maria Miller today quit the David Cameron Cabinet after a row over her expenses, saying the controversy has become a "distraction" for the government.
The controversy "has become a distraction from the vital work this government is doing," she said in a letter to the prime minister.
Prime Minister and Miller discussed her future last night and her resignation was confirmed this day morning, Cameron's official spokesman said.
The PM said he hoped she would be able to return to cabinet "in due course".
The Culture Secretary had faced a week of pressure from the main opposition Labour Party, and from her Conservative colleagues, over payments she had claimed linked to a mortgage.

She was cleared of funding a home for her parents at taxpayers' expense, but was told to repay 5,800 pounds (USD 9,700) of the expenses she claimed.

An independent inquiry panel had previously recommended she repay 45,000 pounds (USD 75,400).
But the lower sum was approved by a committee of lawmakers - a decision which sparked a backlash across the political spectrum and calls for changes in how complaints against MPs are investigated.
The committee also criticised her "attitude" during the investigation, which it ruled was a breach of parliamentary code of conduct.
Miller apologised in the Commons (lower house of the British Parliament), but was criticised for the brevity of her statement.

In her letter, Miller said she was "immensely proud" of her work in cabinet, including "putting in place the legislation to enable all couples to have the opportunity to marry regardless of their sexuality".
She also acknowledged that her role in "implementing the recommendations made by Lord Justice Leveson on the future of media regulation, following the phone hacking scandals, would always be controversial for the press".
The controversy is one among a series of expense account scandals to the British Parliament in recent years, leading to calls for further reforms.